GNPC Foundation has rejected allegations by North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa that there were inflated costs in the construction of the artificial turfs by the Ghana National Petroleum Commission.

The Foundation has insisted that the claims are factually inaccurate and misleading. 

In a press statement issued on Wednesday, July 18, and signed by its Executive Director, it said PIAC Report represents how much had been expended on each project as of the reporting time.

“Honourable Okudzeto’s interpretation of the reported figure of GHS319,813.00 as the unit cost of each Astroturf is factually inaccurate and misleading. 

"The figure as contained in the 2021 PIAC Report represents how much had been expended on each project as at the reporting time rather than the total cost per Astroturf facility,” the foundation said in a statement.

According to the Foundation, the figure captured in the PIAC report represents only 20% of the actual cost. 

“Indeed, this figure only represents 20% of the total contract sum of GHS1,599,065.00 per facility in 2019-2020. Thus, the GH319,813.00 quoted in the PIAC report represents progress payment based on milestone.”

It added that it is funding 32 astroturf facilities across the country which are at various stages of completion.

It explained that at the outset of the project in 2018, the cost of construction of each astroturf was pegged at $250,000 (GH¢997,337.00).

The foundation added that in 2019 and 2020, the cost of each facility increased to $300,000 (GH¢1,599, 065.00) as accurately stated by the Minister of Energy in Parliament on July 5th, 2022.

“Currently, the cost per Astroturf facility stands at $350,000 (GH¢2,366,666.68) with the incremental costs attributed to rising cost in construction,” it stated. 

The latest PIAC Report and my fundamental concerns about Ghana’s anaemic concept of Sports Development; how our oil money is being used under controversial and hazy circumstances to construct Astro Turfs with conflicting unit costs; and the discriminatory distribution. /1 pic.twitter.com/9jrYhRzWpV

— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) July 18, 2022

Mr Ablakwa, in a series of tweets on Monday, July 18, said Ghana’s oil money was under controversial and hazy circumstances to construct Astro Turfs with conflicting unit costs; and discriminatory distribution.

“The latest PIAC Report and my fundamental concerns about Ghana’s anaemic concept of Sports Development; how our oil money is being used under controversial and hazy circumstances to construct Astro Turfs with conflicting unit costs; and the discriminatory distribution.”

However, the Foundation has urged the public to disregard the allegations.